Steven Stamkos ready yet?
The Lightning could really use the All-Star center even more now after Thursday, when center Tyler Johnson and Vladislav Namestnikov left the game with lower body injuries.
Neither looked good, with both Johnson and Namestnikov having to get helped off the ice by teammates within five minutes from each other in the second period. The Lightning announced neither would return tonight, their status going forward.
Namestnikov got tangled up with the Wild's Zach Parise near the right boards, and clutched his left leg in pain as he crumpled to the ice. Then, five minutes later, Johnson got hit into the boards by Nino Niederreiter and remained down on the ice for a minute.